Mitigating Seal Interactions In The SRLF And Gillnet Sector SESSF In South Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$305,821.00
Summary
South Australia contains 80% of the endemic Australian sea lion (ASL) population, where substantial fishing effort in the gillnet sector SESSF (~20,000 km net-lifts/year) and SA RLF (~1.5 million pot-lifts/year) increase the risk of fatal interactions.
A recent risk assessment (FRDC 2005/077) identified that subpopulations of ASL are highly vulnerable to even low-level bycatch from fisheries, with >40% of subpopulations at risk of extinction from as little as 1-2 additional female deat ....South Australia contains 80% of the endemic Australian sea lion (ASL) population, where substantial fishing effort in the gillnet sector SESSF (~20,000 km net-lifts/year) and SA RLF (~1.5 million pot-lifts/year) increase the risk of fatal interactions.
A recent risk assessment (FRDC 2005/077) identified that subpopulations of ASL are highly vulnerable to even low-level bycatch from fisheries, with >40% of subpopulations at risk of extinction from as little as 1-2 additional female deaths/year over a 20-25 year period. The risk assessment identified that the current high proportion of depleted subpopulations of the species may be entirely due to sustained low-level bycatch by commercial fisheries.
ASL are listed as a threatened species under the Commonwealth EPBC Act, and a recovery plan has identified bycatch from bottom-set gillnet and rock lobster fisheries as the most significant anthropogenic contributor to the species’ lack of recovery. As such the development of measures to mitigate interactions with sea lions forms the most pressing ESD issues for these fisheries.
ESD assessments of both the gillnet sector of the SESSF and SARLF fisheries have identified interactions with seals as a significant issue. These assessments make at least seven recommendations to address protected species interactions (including seals), but little if any progress has been made to address these to date.
In order to have southern rock lobster taken from South Australian waters placed on the list of exempt native specimens for export under Part 13 and 13(A) of the EPBC Act, there is an imperative to address these ESD recommendations, as failure to do so may jeopardise current and future export exemptions. Objectives: 1. Develop and assess methods for mitigating sea lion interactions with southern rock lobster pots 2. Develop spatial management options for reducing bycatch to high-risk sea lion subpopulations in the gillnet SESSF, and make recommendation on spatial management options to Shark RAG 3. Assess the significance of ASL bycatch in the high-risk regions of the gillnet SESSF to provide support for spatial management options developed in objective 2 4. Develop performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of the different mitigation options developed for each fishery Read moreRead less
Development Of A Database Network For Use In The Assessment Of The Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$76,650.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To develop a database network system that integrates and allows for the efficient access to the diverse sets of data necessary for the assessment of the SBT fishery
Assessment Of Status, Composition And Market Potential Of Demersal Trawl Fish Resources In Northern Australian Waters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Establish extent, levels of exploitation of tropical demersal trawl fish resources in northern Australian waters of Arafura and Timor Seas 2. Assess data bases and collection procedures 3. Appraise foreign fishing; analyse species, catch rates, methods.
Objectives: 1. The catch rates, levels of recreational fisher participation and recreational catch of Australian herring and salmon in the various coastal fishing regions of temperate WA 2. The overall catch of each species, and the recreational and commercial proportion of the overall catch
An Assessment Of The Economic Impact On The Catching And Processing Sectors Of The Australian Tuna Industry Of Reductions In The Catch Of Juvenile Southern Bluefin Tuna
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Assess, in economic terms, the effects of reductions in catch of juvenile tuna on the catching and processing sectors of the Australian SBT tuna industry, on international fishery, Aust States & regions; 2. Alternatives available to catching & processing sectors
Seafood CRC: Bio-economic Model For SA Prawn Trawl Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$132,770.00
Summary
In recent years Australian wild catch prawn fisheries have had to compete with increasing volumes of cheaper, aquacultured imports. This has resulted in reductions in prawn prices and reduced profitability for prawn fisheries. Historically, the primary focus of management for these fisheries has been biological sustainability. Given their demonstrably sustainable management histories, there is now an urgent need to examine approaches for maximising profitability. South Australia has single ....In recent years Australian wild catch prawn fisheries have had to compete with increasing volumes of cheaper, aquacultured imports. This has resulted in reductions in prawn prices and reduced profitability for prawn fisheries. Historically, the primary focus of management for these fisheries has been biological sustainability. Given their demonstrably sustainable management histories, there is now an urgent need to examine approaches for maximising profitability. South Australia has single species prawn fisheries in Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent that target the Western King prawn. Both fisheries have Management Plans that include a detailed harvest strategy to guide fishing activities, and Performance Indicators (PIs) for assessment of fishery performance. While there are PIs to assess overall economic performance, economic needs are not explicitly considered in the harvest strategy. The Gulf St Vincent Prawn Fishery (GSVPF) has recently undergone an independent review process, from which bio-economic modeling was identified as the highest priority for research in the fishery. Consequently the Gulf St Vincent Prawn Boat Owner's Association (GSVPBOA) has given endorsement of this research proposal. Similarily, the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association has endorsed economic modelling a high priority for the fishery. Objectives: 1. Collate and analyse available data for the GSV and SG prawn fisheries for integration into the bio-econimc model 2. Modify the existing Eastern king prawn bio-economic model to fit the SG and GSV prawn fishery data 3. Determine economically optimal fishing strategies for the GSV and SG prawn fisheries 4. Develop an approach to incorporate optimal fishing strategies into the harvest strategy for each fishery 5. Provide extension of the developed model and its outputs to stakeholders of other Australian prawn trawl fisheries. Read moreRead less
Informing The Review Of The Commonwealth Policy On Fisheries Bycatch Through Assessing Trends In Bycatch Of Key Commonwealth Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$75,000.00
Summary
DAFF is currently undertaking a review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch. The review is supported by an Advisory Committee comprising industry, departmental, research and eNGO representatives. Since the first bycatch policy was introduced in 2000, Commonwealth fisheries have been through significant change. This includes changing gear, bycatch mitigation measures, the Harvest Strategy Policy and fishery restructuring. ABARES have looked at TEPS interactions and some fisheries ha ....DAFF is currently undertaking a review of the Commonwealth Policy on Fisheries Bycatch. The review is supported by an Advisory Committee comprising industry, departmental, research and eNGO representatives. Since the first bycatch policy was introduced in 2000, Commonwealth fisheries have been through significant change. This includes changing gear, bycatch mitigation measures, the Harvest Strategy Policy and fishery restructuring. ABARES have looked at TEPS interactions and some fisheries have reported annual bycatch statistics during some periods. However, there has been no overall synthesis and analysis of trends in bycatch since 2000 for Commonwealth fisheries.
Given the importance of this review, a detailed analysis is required to inform the review and provide a means of evaluating changes in bycatch over the last 10 years or so. Such an analysis should include bycatch rate, total bycatch by fishery and bycatch composition.
Objectives: 1. Document changes in Commonwealth fisheries relevant to bycatch 2. Collate and synthesise all available bycatch data for Commonwealth fisheries 3. Analyse and report on trends in bycatch rate, total bycatch and catch composition Read moreRead less
An Industry-based Program To Monitor Seal Interactions In The SETF
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$87,450.00
Summary
Ministerial recommendations following Strategic Assessment of the SESSF Trawl Fishery were that:
18. AFMA, in consultation with industry, EA, researchers and other stakeholders, to further assess and reduce the extent of interactions of seals, cetaceans and seabirds across all sectors of the SESSF, and interactions with syngnathids in the trawl sectors and white sharks in the gillnet and hook sector. AFMA will, for all of the above species: • within 12 months, establish robust data ....Ministerial recommendations following Strategic Assessment of the SESSF Trawl Fishery were that:
18. AFMA, in consultation with industry, EA, researchers and other stakeholders, to further assess and reduce the extent of interactions of seals, cetaceans and seabirds across all sectors of the SESSF, and interactions with syngnathids in the trawl sectors and white sharks in the gillnet and hook sector. AFMA will, for all of the above species: • within 12 months, establish robust data collection and reporting systems to quantify the extent of interactions; and • within 3 years assess, trial and implement as appropriate mitigation or avoidance measures including further trials of bycatch exclusion devices and spatial or temporal closures.
For seals and sea lions, AFMA will, within 18 months, extend across the trawl sectors management measures assessed as effective to help reduce interactions with seals and sea lions.
By the time you are considering whether to fund this project, the December 2004 deadline for establishment of the robust data collection and reporting system will have passed.
ISMP observer trips only cover <5% of trawl shots, so there is a lot of uncertainty about relatively rare events such as the interactions of trawl vessels with seals. Power analysis of the ISMP data revealed that to detect even a 50% decrease in the interactions with seals would require an observer program more than 7 times the current level of coverage. This would be likely to cost industry over $4 million dollars annually. If even half of industry accurately recorded their interactions with seals, it would provide a level of monitoring of this issue that would be ten times more powerful than the current ISMP coverage at a cost of <2% of independent observer coverage.
Industry can not afford to do anything other than immediately establish its own program to monitor the interactions of trawl vessels with seals. The current ISMP will be used to audit the industry-based monitoring program.
Objectives: 1. To provide fishers with relevant information on the biology and conservation of seals to help raise industry awareness and encourage increased reporting of seal-fishery interactions. 2. To ensure that Industry is familiar with and applies its Code of Conduct especially in relation to the mitigation of incidental seal bycatch and seal mortality. 3. To establish a robust industry-based monitoring program that provides spatial and temporal information on the level of seal-fishery interactions of SESSF trawl vessels. 4. To develop and trial options to validate the robustness/reasonableness of the data collection and reporting system to quantify the extent of seal interactions and report on the potential uptake by fishers of each option and the extent of effectiveness of each option in meeting the relevant strategic assessment requirements of the EPBC Act. Read moreRead less
Development And Application Of AUSTed In The Australian Trawl Industry REFER 93/231.07
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Further develop the AUSTed design to maximise prawn catches while further reducing bycatch 2. Develop a manufacturing process for AUSTed in conjunction with commercial engineering and net making firms 3. Develop an extension and liaison process in order to have the fishing industry educated about the nature and extent of the bycatch problem and have industry accept the use of excluding gear